Orange Shirt Day is a day where we honor the Indigenous children’s suffering due to residential schools. The reason we use an orange shirt to symbolize the event is because Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor and author, was given a orange shirt by her grandmother on her first day of school. That same day, the residential school, forced her to take off all her clothes, including her orange shirt. Orange Shirt Day is significant because it represents the fact that Canada regrets their decisions and understands the severity of what they did.

“Orange Shirt Society: Every Child Matters.” Orange Shirt Day, https://www.orangeshirtday.org/. October

8, 2022.

There are no indigenous justice systems that have been utilized/implemented fully yet in Canada. Indigenous courts” and “Gladue courts” have been created by some provinces. These were built to address the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in corrections, however they have only been operating in their own provinces.

“Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.” CBC News, March 19, 2018,

https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform-single/beyond-94?&cta=42. October 8, 2022.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/indigenous-people/national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation#in-bc

Truth and Reconciliation Day is a national holiday to honor the survivors of residential schools, it is a chance to educate people on B.C.s colonial history. Orange Shirt Day became September 30th and was a chance to reflect on Canada’s actions, and in June, 2021, a bill was passed to make Truth and Reconciliation Day a federal holiday.

British Columbia, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.” Province of British Columbia,

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/indigenous-people/national-day-for-truth-and-

reconciliation#in-bc. October 8, 2022.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf

This assignment allows us to build intercultural understanding by engaging and educating ourselves about our past and present relationships with the Indigenous peoples. Learning about this additionally allows us to build empathy mutual respect.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. “Truth and Reconciliation Commissions of Canada: Calls

to Action.” 2012, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-

governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf.

In the 1900s, the Canadian government built a dam in one of the reservoirs where the Indigenous peoples would get salmon, which was one of their main food sources. The Indigenous people asked the Canadian government not to build it; however, the Canadian government continued with the project. They continued with the project knowing that they were practically taking food out of someone’s cabinet.

“The Story of Kwikwetlem.” YouTube, uploaded by Kwikwetlem First Nation, October 4, 2021,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EanZG7DGVTo, October 9, 2022.

The language used to be used by many First Nations peoples; however, today, it is an extremely endangered language and spoken fluently by less then 100 people.

“HƏN̓Q̓ƏMIN̓ƏM̓ LANGUAGE GUIDE.” Kwikwetlem First Nation,

https://www.kwikwetlem.com/pronunciation-guide.htm. October 8, 2022.